DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A pair of former Boilermakers earned their tour cards from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) this week, posting outstanding finishes in the Stage III LPGA Qualifying Tournament at the LPGA International Jones and Hills Courses. Former NCAA Champion Maria Hernandez tied for ninth place overall at the 90-hole event, shooting eight-under par over five days, while Paula Reto tied for 13th.

"We're incredibly proud of our alumni," said Purdue women's golf head coach Devon Brouse. "To see them go on to have this kind of success on the professional stage, and keep playing our sport at such a high level is an outstanding reflection on Purdue and everything we achieved here together."

Hernandez shot under-par on four of the five days, finishing with a score of 71-71-72-67-71=352. Her 67 on the fourth day was tied for third best on Saturday, just two shots off the top mark. Reto was one shot back, finishing tied for 13th at 73-71-72-67-70=353, good for seven-under. Former Boilermaker Maude-Aimee LeBlanc was two-under at 71-73-73-71-70=358, earning Priority List (limited) status from the LPGA.

Other Boilermakers in the event were amateurs Laura Conzalez-Escallon and Kishi Sinha, along with Numa Gulyanamitta. Gonzalez-Escallon made the fifth-round cut, but missed LPGA status with a final score of seven-over par, 76-70-76-69-76=367, while Sinha and Gulyanamitta were unable to advance to the fifth and final round of play.

Hernandez retains her LPGA card, while Reto earns hers for the first time after finishing her Boilermaker career last spring. The LPGA season starts on Jan. 23, 2014, with the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic in Paradise Island, Bahamas.